The Boyfriend Bet was a quick(ish) light read. I feel like there was something missing though. I don't quite know what that is but I know I kept waiting for something MORE as I  read and it was something that never came, unfortunately. I know this was a high school romance but it felt very immature to me. This story started with a kiss between strangers in the first couple of pages but ultimately seemed to almost lose traction from there, which was surprising. All in all I thought it was a cute story, but missing some key attention/emotion grabbing elements. 

Going Down in Flames
by Chris Cannon
Release Date: June 30th 2014
Entangled Teen

Summary:

FF&P’S 2015 PRISM Finalist

A 2015 Colorado Romance Writers Award of Excellence *WINNER* in the Young Adult with Romantic Elements category

If her love life is going down in flames, she might as well spark a revolution.

Finding out on your sixteenth birthday you’re a shape-shifting dragon is tough to swallow. Being hauled off to an elite boarding school is enough to choke on.

Since Bryn is the only crossbreed at the Institute for Excellence, all eyes are on her, but it’s a particular black dragon, Zavien, who catches her attention.

Zavien is tired of the Council’s rules. Segregated clans, being told who to love, and close-minded leaders make freedom of choice almost impossible. The new girl with the striped hair is a breath of fresh air, and with Bryn’s help, they may be able to change the rules.

At the Institute, old grudges, new crushes, and death threats are all part of a normal day for Bryn. She’ll need to learn to control her dragon powers if she wants to make it through her first year at school. But even focusing on staying alive is difficult when you’re falling for someone you can't have. 

 

Check out the Going Down in Flames series (click on images for Goodreads links):

Going Down in Flames is on Sale for $0.99!

 

Purchase Links for the series:

 

Going Down in Flames: https://entangledpublishing.com/going-down-in-flames.html

Bridges Burned: https://entangledpublishing.com/bridges-burned.html

Trial By Fire: https://entangledpublishing.com/trial-by-fire.html

Fanning the Flames: https://entangledpublishing.com/fanning-the-flames.html

Burning Bright: https://entangledpublishing.com/burning-bright.html

 

 

 

Excerpt from GOING DOWN IN FLAMES:

 

He blinked in confusion. “What do you want to know?”

Time to ask the million-dollar question. No matter the pain it caused, she needed to know. “Who is your intended?”

He shook his head. “It doesn’t matter.”

Wrong. “It matters if you plan to spend the rest of your life with her.”

“She’s a friend.” He didn’t meet her gaze.

Bryn heard a door close. Miss Enid and Valmont had retreated into the bedroom to give them privacy.

She inched closer. Electricity sparked between them, making the hair on the back of her neck stand up. “I need to know.”

He took a deep breath and met her gaze. “My intended is Nola.”

No. Freaking. Way.

Nola? His intended was Nola? How in the hell was she supposed to compete against the dark-haired Barbie? She couldn’t. Dropping her hand from his chest, she backed up a step.

Zavien closed the distance between them. “I swear. She’s a friend.”

Wanting to believe, she placed her hand over his heart and searched his eyes for the truth. “If she’s a friend, then what am I?”

He skimmed his fingers along her jaw and down her neck. Warmth radiated from his touch. He settled his hand at the base of her skull, leaned close, and whispered, “You are temptation.”

She held her breath as he lowered his head and brushed his lips against hers. Time seemed to stand still. His mouth moved against hers. Melting against him, she fisted her hands in his shirt and tried to pull him closer. He wrapped his arm around her waist, drawing her body flush against his.

Too soon, he pulled away. “I shouldn’t have done that.”

“I’m not sorry you did.” She traced her fingertips along his jaw. For so long, she’d been unsure of his feelings. Now she knew. 

About the Author:

 

Chris Cannon lives in Southern Illinois with her husband and her three dogs, Pete the shih tzu who sleeps on her desk while she writes, Molly the ever-shedding yellow lab, and Tyson the sandwich-stealing German Shepherd Beagle. She believes coffee is the Elixir of Life. Most evenings after work, you can find her sucking down caffeine and writing fire-breathing paranormal adventures or romantic comedies.

Author Links:
   

 

 

 

 

About The Dating Debate:

Nina Barnes thinks Valentine’s Day should be optional. That way single people like her wouldn’t be subjected to kissy Cupids all over the place. That is, until her mom moves them next door to the brooding hottie of Greenbrier High, West Smith. He’s funny, looks amazing in a black leather jacket, and he’s fluent in Harry Potter, but she’s not sure he’s boyfriend material. 

West isn’t sure what to make of Nina. She’s cute and loves to read as much as he does, but she seems to need to debate everything and she has a pathological insistence on telling the truth. And West doesn’t exactly know how to handle that, since his entire life is a carefully constructed secret. Dating the girl next door could be a ton of fun, but only if Nina never finds out the truth about his home life. It’s one secret that could bring them together or rip them apart. 

Disclaimer: This Entangled Teen Crush book is not for anyone who has to get in the last word, but it is for all book nerds, especially those who live next door to so called unapproachable gorgeous guys. There’s no debating the chemistry. 

Buylinks: https://entangledpublishing.com/the-dating-debate.html

Excerpt from The Dating Debate:

“So, this whole dance thing?” West picked up a fork, took a bite of rice, and stared at me like he was waiting for me to give him an easy out. Not going to happen. Mess with a smart girl and suffer the consequences.

“You started it,” was the most amusing response I could come up with.

“No.” He shook his head as if trying to emphasize his response. “You started it when you invited me in for dinner.”

“Why? Because I knew you’d rather eat dirt than join us for rice? That’s your fault for being a suck-up and carrying my mom’s food.”

“I was being nice,” he shot back.

“No good deed goes unpunished.” I batted my eyelashes at him. “Besides, I was going to help her before you rushed over.”

He looked at me like I was crazy. “So I shouldn’t have helped your mom, but it’s okay for you to shove Cole off on Vicky.”

“Please. He’s a nice guy. She’ll fall for him...maybe because he’s the total opposite of you.”

He pointed his fork at me. “Where do you get off judging me?”

“I’m not judging you. I meant you’re all black-leather- jacket-brooding loner guy, and he’s Mr.-Happy-Sunshine- everyone-is-my-friend.”

“Fine. Mr. Sunshine is out of the way now, so there’s no need for us to go to the dance.”

“Nice try,” I said. “We’re going to the dance.”

“Why?”

“Because you said we were,” I said. “And lying is never acceptable. Don’t stress about this. I’m not proposing we run off to Mexico and get matching his-and-her tattoos. We’ll just go to the dance together. No big deal.”

“Right. Nothing is ever that simple.”

The Dating Debate by Chris Cannon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Nina thinks that certain holidays are just a bunch of hooey. She knows from personal experience that some relationships never work out. Instead, she tries to debate her surly neighbor and finds she may be attracted to him.

West is not sure what to make of his neighbor. She seems like an attractive person. She just always seems to take the opposition's position. Why do some women do that?

This was a book that had me laughing out loud at parts. These characters were fun to read. They do seem like opposites attract. The part where they compliment each other with their issues is a bonus.


***This ARC copy was given in exchange for an honest review, by Netgalley and its publisher.

View all my reviews

About Chris Cannon:

Chris Cannon is the award-winning author of the Going Down In Flames series and the Boyfriend Chronicles. She lives in Southern Illinois with her husband and several furry beasts.

She believes coffee is the Elixir of Life. Most evenings after work, you can find her sucking down caffeine and writing fire-breathing paranormal adventures or romantic comedies. You can find her online at www.chriscannonauthor.com.

Author Links:
Author Website: www.chriscannonauthor.com
Author Blog: http://www.chriscannonauthor.com/blog/
Author Twitter: https://twitter.com/ccannonauthor
Author Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chriscannonauthor/
Author Street Team/Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1444443819173580/
Author Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chriscannonauthor/
Author Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/ccannonauthor/pins/
Author Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8285334.Chris_Cannon

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Nina thinks that certain holidays are just a bunch of hooey.  She knows from personal experience that some relationships never work out.  Instead, she tries to debate her surly neighbor and finds she may be attracted to him.

West is not sure what to make of his neighbor.  She seems like an attractive person.  She just always seems to take the opposition's position.  Why do some women do that?  

This was a book that had me laughing out loud at parts.  These characters were fun to read.  They do seem like opposites attract.  The part where they compliment each other with their issues is a bonus.  I give this story a 4/5 Kitty's Paws UP!

***This ARC copy was given in exchange for an honest review, by Netgalley and its publisher.

Chris Cannon’s FANNING THE FLAMES, is an amazing addition as the fourth book to the Going Down in Flames series. The story takes place following book three, TRIAL BY FIRE.  Red/blue-hybrid dragon shifter, Bryn McKenna, is finally feeling like she is starting to fit in. Things are going well with her knight/boyfriend, Valmont Fonzoli.  However, she is waiting to find out if her arranged marriage to, Jaxon Westgate, will be approved.  Meanwhile, the Directorate is on the hunt for Rebel sympathizers.  Bryn and Jaxon are assigned as student liaisons, thus involved in the controversy.  This Contemporary paranormal fantasy is suitable for young adults.

The characters continue to grow and become more dynamic.  Bryn has come a long way since the first book.  She is starting to think of herself as a dragon, instead of a human.  She is smart and good at figuring out plots/conspiracies.  Valmont has some understandable issues he faces in this story.   His life has completely changed since he became Bryn’s knight and he misses his family.  Jaxon is still very much a blue dragon, but we see glimpses of open mindedness that makes him more appealing.  

The plot was exceptional.  Chris Cannon did a great job recapping the previous books.  There were many unexpected twists and compelling conflicts.  The story was full of mystery and drama.  My heart both broke and rejoiced for some of the things that happened in this story.  The ending was thrilling and mixed with emotion.   I cannot wait for book five to read where Chris Cannon takes the next story.  I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.